Jane Baxter

I was born into, and raised in, the tradition of bluegrass music thanks to my parents J.N. and Onie Baxter. I grew up traveling with them to festivals all over the southeast, watching their band, The Bluegrass Five, perform on shows with countless numbers of bluegrass greats like Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley and Flatt & Scruggs, The Osborne Brothers, The Lewis Family, on and on. They had a jam session the night I came home from the hospital and it has been non-stop since then with them and bluegrass. I played hard at just being a kid at festivals and having fun (The Camp Spring Bluegrass Festival DVD is a great example of what a big part of my childhood was like). Finally, at fourteen, I caught the fever. I taught myself to play bass and guitar, and began playing bass and singing everything from bluegrass, country, and rock in local bands in high school and college, performing at events, festivals and clubs all over the Atlanta area. Because I played different bass styles and sang harmony vocals, I played with a wide variety of people over the years, all having helped me develop greatly. My most recent professional gig was with touring bluegrass band, The Gary Waldrep Band (2006-2008). Just after graduating from West Georgia College in 1990, I had the good fortune of working two years with bluegrass artist and songwriter, Louisa Branscomb, who co- wrote Alison Krauss's Grammy award winning song, "Steel Rails". I performed at Six Flags Over Georgia for three years in the mid 90s country boom, as a member of the parks live country music band "Obadiah Jasper". During that time I pulled double duty by backing up lead vocalist Ryan Robertson and had the experience of participating in his chase for a Nashville recording contract including featured performances at the Bluebird Café, as well as an RCA showcase. Next, I joined the band of another local artist seeking a Nashville recording contract, Joy Waters, performing all over the southeast, and in showcases for RCA and Mercury records. Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with many local and national artists in different music genres in both the studio and live performance. Recently worked in the studio with Barry Waldrep of Rollin' in the Hay along with lifelong friends Zach and David Steed of Bullsboro Bluegrass. Just in the local West Georgia music scene I worked with my life long friend and mentor, Connie Morris in Georgia Bound, Renita and the Jane Gang, She, George Britt and Another Shot, and Bluesmobile and I've been a gun for hire fill in gig bassist with many more area artists as well. I've played bass on gigs with legendary member of New Grass Revival, Curtis Burch Jr., as well as country music artists Ty Herndon, and Vern Gosdin. I've been in support acts on shows with Alison Krauss & Union Station, John Michael Montgomery, and The Kentucky Headhunters. Performing for athletes in the Olympic Village during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, as well as marching past millions in the streets New York City in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade during high school band, have been two of my most unique performance situations to date. My most fulfilling music experiences have been performing and jammin' with all the "bluegrass kin" I grew up with, especially my parents, whom I am proud to say are members of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame for their contribution to bluegrass in the North Georgia area for the past 45 years. I am still a hometown girl and I work in management at the national fulfillment center for a major gourmet food cataloger that promotes a professional working environment and is also very supportive of my life outside the company. Thanks for checking out my space. ..